Peju Province Winery Napa Valley Merlot 2015, California

It’s time for #MerlotThursday. Here’s a delightful one.

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, cherries, spices, cedar, licorice, vanilla, light vegetables, dark coffee, herbs, tobacco leaf, spices, earth and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, coke, graphite and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruit forward, rich and big, with a great mouthfeel and nice complexity.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows the tannins (90 minutes).

Drinking very nicely now and will be better in the next 5 years.

I had it all by itself. So delicious.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.

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Vineyard 36 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California

Time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Here is a beautiful one from Napa Valley.

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, cherries, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, earth, chocolates, tobacco, coffee and black pepper.

Full-bodied, soft and smooth, with medium acidity and nice long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, chocolates, bitter herbs, coffee, peppercorn, vegetables, pencil lead, tobacco and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Showing nice complexity with a very yummy mouthfeel.

Still young and needs time in the bottle to mature.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. After 90 minutes of airtime, it shows more vegetable notes.

Good with food, but also a great sipper. Delicious now, but will be even better in the next 5 to 10 years.

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

Had it all by myself. Sometimes you need to take time for yourself, with a good bottle of wine, right? 😂

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Merlot. Aged in 33% new French oak barrels.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$85.

Orin Swift Cellars Machete 2012, California

Deep ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose of cooked blackberries, sweet plums, cherry pie, dried figs, tobacco, spices, cedar, vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, mocha, tobacco, earth, peppercorn and leather.

Full bodied, rich, extracted and bold, with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, mocha, light vegetables, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth, leather, coke, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Long finish with medium tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Petite Sirah blend from the house of Orin Swift. Rich and fruit forward with great complexity and mouthfeel. Still shows some alcohol on the palate.

This 7 year old is good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (90 minutes).

Spicy with a beautiful nose. Delicious and yummy.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

A blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.

15.7% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$50.

Rudius Wines Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, California

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium acidity and nice legs

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite, bitter herbs, black tea and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is very tasty. Nicely balanced with nice complexity and a nice mouthfeel.

Better after 2 hours of airtime, when it opens up and shows the tannins.

Wine Spectator 92 points. Robert Parker 90 points.

I enjoyed it, but expected more from this vintage. Although it could age nicely in the next 10 years, if you are expecting a Napa Cabernet taste, I’d recommend to drink it sooner rather than later.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$70.

Robert John Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bold 2016, California

Dark ruby in color with a short purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, oak, licorice, vanilla, mint, vegetables, dust, chocolates, earth and peppercorn.

Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet raspberries, figs, vanilla, licorice, oak, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead, dark chocolates, coke and peppercorn.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Well balanced with nice complexity and a nice mouthfeel.

Bold and rich, yet elegant. Smooth with a tangy ending that makes it interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up and shows some tannins. After 90 minutes of airtime, vegetables come in on the nose, but not much on the palate.

Still young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature. Good by itself as a sipping wine.

Soft and yummy.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$55.

Hunt and Harvest Wines Rutherford Merlot 2013, Napa Valley, California

Time for my #MerlotThursday. Here’s a great one from Napa Valley.

A nice color of dark ruby with a wide brick rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, blackcurrants, plums, vanilla, cedar, licorice, spices, pencil lead, peppercorn, chocolates, dark coffee, earth and light vegetables.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black plums, cherries, wood, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, vegetables, leather, chocolates, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Well balanced and spicy. Fruit forward and big. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (1 hour).

This 6 year old is drinking very nicely now. From a great vintage, and is peaking now. Will be good in the next 5 years.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Merlot grapes were aged in 50% New French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$26.

Taken Wines Napa Valley Red Blend 2015, California

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, light earth, medicine, pencil lead and black pepper.

Full bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and cherries.

This is a great Red blend from Napa Valley. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Elegant and very enjoyable by itself or with food.

Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour in the decanter.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Hugh tannins come in after 2 hours. Definitely needs 3 to 5 years to calm down.

A blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Zinfandel, 15% Merlot and 13% Petite Sirah. Aged in French oak barrels.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$36.